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While the United States is a nation of newcomers, the National Football League is largely led by US-born players. Only five percent of players are born abroad, and the majority of them step into the sport by attending college in the US. Genuine outsiders are unusual, and foreign coaches are particularly scarce, which makes James Cook’s story exceptional.

Cook’s Surprising Path to the NFL

Cook has been in control of player development at the Browns organization. That’s an accomplishment in itself, but it’s incredible given he grew up in Surrey, is in his twenties, and never participated in professional sport. Cook discovered the NFL as a teenager while surfing channels with his father and stumbled upon what he described as a “weird and wonderful” game. He began participating locally and soon wanted to become the first-ever NFL QB born in Europe. He got as far as playing for Team GB, but his plans to go to college in the US were too expensive.

“I was scooping popcorn, wiping seats, making burgers, handling a bit of everything. Whenever the NFL guys needed me, I would adjust my shifts and assist. As a quarterback, the one thing I had was I could throw. So when they worked out with players, I’d show up around London and toss the ball to them. I didn’t get paid, but they’d usually get me lunch.”

This is where he encountered Durde, who had periods with the Panthers and Kansas City Chiefs during his career before he established the International Player Pathway programme in 2017 with two-time championship winner Umenyiora. When Durde became part of the staff at the Atlanta Falcons, becoming the first UK permanent coach in NFL history, Cook assumed control of the IPP. “I enjoyed a lot of fun with it, working with some really interesting players,” he says. “We had Rees-Zammit; Travis Clayton, who got drafted by the Bills; Charlie Smyth, the specialist from Ireland who’s now with the New Orleans. I went to Down Under to train aspiring athletes from around the Pacific region to introduce them to college football, like what I wanted to do.”

Transitioning to Coaching in the NFL

Similar to his predecessor before him, Cook transitioned from training foreign players to joining the NFL. “The Browns called unexpectedly,” he says. “They had a multi-faceted position assisting rookies, maximising time on the training ground, collaborating with physios, the coach and general manager. It’s a very hands-on position, which is perfect for me. My background was guiding international athletes who had never played the game. Rookie rookies also have to establish habits and schedules: learning to look after their health and deal with a massive game plan. But also just being present for guys. That’s the identical across the board. And I love that.”

Is being an Englishman who never compete in the NFL hold him back? “It’s largely a perceived hurdle than an actual one,” states Cook. “I’ve had a lot of Lasso-style jokes and many players call me ‘mate’ as they like that. It’s more about monitoring my language. I use ‘trash can’ not ‘bin’. But we feel anxious or under pressure about the similar things and need support in the same ways. If players know you can assist them, they aren’t concerned about your origin or how you speak. And when people know that you are invested, all the other stuff fades.”

Advantages of Being Beyond the NFL Bubble

Originating from beyond the American football world has its upsides. “I spoke in front of the entire team soon after joining, and, as we left, one of our linemen wanted to talk the sport with me as he loves it. You build those bonds and build relationships. People are truly curious. NFL buildings are more diverse than people think. We have people from all sorts of backgrounds, a range of experiences. Our saying at IPP was: ‘Be uncommon – you are different so embrace it.’ It’s something to be proud of.”

The NFL has been better at attracting international supporters than developing foreign players. Mailata, a former rugby league player from Sydney who claimed the Super Bowl recently with the Philadelphia Eagles, is one of the few IPP players to have made it to the elite level.

Foreign Athletes and Their Paths

Foreign players have typically been specialists, recruited from other football codes. Howfield swapped playing up front for Watford and Fulham for becoming a kicker for the Denver Broncos and New York Jets; Luckhurst transitioned from rugby in St Albans to the Falcons team. If you do not want to be a kicker and were not trained in the US college system, it’s extremely difficult to make the leap to the NFL.

Ayo Oyelola, a native of London who played for Chelsea’s youth team before finding the sport at university, has achieved that. He played in the CFL for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before moving to the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pircher’s experience is just as improbable. At 6ft 7in and 23 stone, the Italian was clearly not suited for his favoured sports, soccer and the sport, so took up the NFL in his teenage years. He stood out while representing teams in Europe and Europe, as well as the Italy team, and was given a spot on the IPP in that year.

A year later, he held the Vince Lombardi Trophy as a part of the Rams practice squad. Pircher went on to have spells on the periphery at the Lions, Seahawks and Commanders, before he joined the Minnesota Vikings at the end of August. He has been well-liked in each team but is yet to see action on the gridiron. Is being a foreigner still a hurdle?

“It isn’t difficult, not a barrier,” says the 26-year-old. “We have players from all different states, so it isn’t an issue. Initially, they inquire: ‘You speak differently – where are you from?’ But, after we clarify that, we’re teammates. The Minnesota have a very welcoming culture, a great squad, a great organization.”

Although devoting most of practice with his other linemen, Pircher has thrown himself into the social mix at his clubs. “Obviously the O-line is always very tight because we are a unit and united, but we have mates from all positions. My close friend, Akers – my best man, actually – played wide receiver at the Rams. The long snapper from the Packers, Orzech, is a close pal: we shared a home for two years at the Rams. QBs, defenders, specialists: we’ve have to be supportive.”

Motivating the Future

Pircher is aware he represents more than just his home countries. “In my view all the countries beyond the United States. The better every IPP graduate does, the more youth who participate in Europe, in Germany, anywhere, can see: ‘It can be done – if I put the work in every day, I can succeed.’ I have a lot of youngsters contacting me, seeking tips. It’s nice to encourage them to pursue what I’ve achieved.”

The program alumni are welcomed to Florida each year to coach the new group of aspiring NFL outsiders. “Virtually everyone of us come back